Raleigh, N.C. – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) thanked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for its response to a letter she wrote to Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Ronald Walters, urging him to work expeditiously to fix flooding and drainage issues at the Raleigh National Cemetery. Due to these issues, dozens of service members’ graves who fought in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War are frequently left underwater after heavy rainfall.

“I have been monitoring this issue very closely,” Congresswoman Ross said. “Families of the veterans and our entire community visit this cemetery to pay their respects to the brave men and women who have served our country. I am committed to the upkeep of our memorials, and I am grateful for the VA’s thoughtful response to this issue. I look forward to a new design to ensure we never encounter this problem again.”

The letter states that the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is pursuing a permanent solution that involves the design and construction of a replacement storm sewer system and a drainage solution for the southeast corner of the cemetery. The targeted completion date is September 2021.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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